I was reminded of my dad's carefully tended garden when we visited a community on the outskirts of the city of Cochabamba. Outside many of the homes we saw were small squares of flourishing green produce. These gardens provide not only sustenance for the whole family, but a source of income.

This is the time of year best known for the harvest, and my vegetable garden is bursting with all of the proverbial "fruits of my labour." This is also the time of year when I need to start filling the freezer, can and preserve all of the food that I grew for my family to eat.

If you've ever tried to "over-haul" your life in one giant leap it's often very difficult to maintain, if not impossible. There will always be some occasion, family emergency, or important work function that will interrupt your new healthy way of living. But healthy living is just that -- living your life in a healthy way.

Ontario produces more asparagus than the rest of Canada combined, with 90 growers alone in the province; this amounts to 3500 acres worth of asparagus to harvest from. It is a $25 million dollar industry. Due to asparagus farmers investing in this kind of research and breeding, initially, it was a success story. But circumstances quickly changed.

Encouraging people to eat more fruit is fairly easy; however convincing them to add more vegetables daily is a different story! Getting the recommended seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can seem overwhelming for some. However, there are delicious and simple ways to include veggies in your diet.

Maybe the thought of bringing a glass of thick, green, fluid up to your lips leaves you thinking something along the lines of "not in my lifetime." If this is you then now is the time to expand your smoothie horizons; who knows what kind of health benefits await you with your first sip?

Since celebrity chef Jamie Oliver credited his recent weight loss to sleep and seaweed, I've been asked many questions about the popular sea veggie. Originally a delicacy in many Asian countries, seaweed is gaining international popularity. There are over 20 types of edible seaweed and even more are being discovered.

Fleas and Farms aren't usually discussed in harmony but this is far from a typical conversation. No, we aren't talking about those pesky critters that dwell on man's best friend. We're exploring the unique collection of Flea and Farmers Markets that abound across Edmonton.

I believe in real food. I take no greater pleasure than putting something on the dinner table that was basically in the ground this morning. You truly can taste the difference. Sure, I know how to cook -- but my real secret is found in the products I'm using. I'm talking about local ingredients -- from my produce to my meats.

From a nutrition standpoint, grilling is a great way to prepare foods because it uses very little fat except to add flavour, in limited amounts, if you choose. Also you don't lose nutrients in the cooking water as you do when you boil vegetables, which is the go-to vegetable prep method for a lot of people.

So who should you listen to? The answer of course, is you. Listen to your body. Really listen. Ask yourself some key questions. The answers to what you should, and shouldn't be eating are best determined by you, and your desired results.

One of the first greens to pop up in the spring are wild leeks. Leeks have a milder, sweeter taste than onion and a much prettier presentation. Foraging for food is a hipster renewal of ancient skills and I like the reinforcement of the idea that food comes from the earth, not the grocer.

Clever campaigns such as Intermarche's capitalize on the growing social movement to reduce food waste and on consumers' willingness to buy nutrient-dense, misshapen vegetables for a lower cost. Look no further than the top techniques of puréeing, shredding and spiralizing.

The data also clearly show you get a benefit even if you don't eat five servings a day. One serving a day gives you very roughly a 10 per cent relative mortality benefit, two servings, a 15 per cent benefit, three servings, a 20 per cent benefit, four servings, a 25 per cent benefit -- and then once you get to five servings, that is basically it.

I don't have time to hide veggies in everything I cook, and I can make only so many muffins. I continue to offer her veggies often, but I'm battle weary, folks. Ready to admit defeat.
Then I imagine her little body deficient in countless vitamins and minerals, and I strategize my battle plans for the week ahead.

Are you wondering how to stay cool as a cucumber this summer? Keeping hydrated is important year round, but especially in the warm weather, as it prevents our bodies from overheating. To remain cool during the dog days of summer, here are five delicious and hydrating foods to add to your menu.